Anatomy of Cranial Skeleton

Parta Kinandana
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University
206 Bones, That’s all you got!
 Cranium

Clavicle
Scapula

Vertebrae Humerus
Rib Cages

Radius
Pelvic Bone Ulnae
Sacrum

Femur

Patella

Tibia

Fibula
Anatomy of Axial Skeleton
Consist of :
• Cranium (Skull)
• Vertebrae (Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar,
Sacrum)
• Pelvic Bone
• Thoracic Cage :
• Sternum
• Costae
Bones of Cranium
Cranium consist of:
• Neurocranium (braincase)
• 8 Bones: ethmoid, sphenoid, frontal, parietal (2), temporal (2), occipital

• Spalanchnocranium (facies)
• Maxilla and Mandibula
Skeletal Structure of the Face
Bones of the Cranium
Skeletal Structure of the Face
Anterior View
Skeletal Structure of the Face
Posterior View
Skeletal Structure of the Face
Lateral View
Skeletal Structure of the Face
Lateral View

Figure 14-6. The bony landmarks of the Figure 14-7. Sphenoid and maxillary bones. Right
temporal and zygomatic bones. Right lateral lateral view with zygomatic arch removed.
view of skull with mandible removed.
Skeletal Structure of the Face
Inferior View
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
Temporal Bone & Fossa

Temporal Bones
• Forms part of the base and lateral
inferior sides of the cranium.

To Palpate Temporal Fossa

• Locate the junction of your
client's head and the top of their
ear with your four fingertips.
• Slide your fingertips superiorly
into the broad, shallow temporal
fossa.
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
Temporal Bone & Fossa

Figure 14-8. Temporal fossa includes portions of the temporal,

parietal, frontal, and sphenoid bones (lateral view).
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
Mastoid Process

Mastoid Process
• Bony prominence behind the ear to
which the sternocleidomastoid
muscle attaches.

To Palpate Mastoid Process

• Place the pad of one of your
fingertips directly behind your
client's ear.
• Sweep the pad of your finger
around the large, rounded mastoid
process.
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
Zygomatic Bones

Zygomatic Bones
• Bony prominence at the lateral side
of the skull form the inferior border
of temporal fossa

To palpate Zygomatic Bones

• Locate the prominent ridge just
anterior to your client's ear canal
with your fingertips.
• Slide fingers anteriorly across the
cheek toward the nose, palpating
the narrow zygomatic bone.
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
Mandibular Angle

Angle of Mandible
• Side edge of mandible

To palpate Mandibular Angle

• Locate the inferior edge of your
client's zygomatic bone with your
fingertips.
• Slide your fingertips inferiorly onto
the broad, flat ramus of the
mandible and follow its surface
where it curves anteriorly at the
angle.
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
External Occipital Protuberance (POE)

External Occipital Protuberance (POE)

• The small prominence in the center
of the occiput.

To palpate POE
• Cup your fingertips under your
client's head and onto the occiput.
• Palpate the midline of the occiput,
locating the bump marking the
center of the superior nuchal line.
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
Coronoid Process

External Coronoid Process

• Anteriorly protruding bone in front
of mandible

To palpate Coronoid Process

• Locate the center of the zygomatic
bone with the pad of one finger.
• Slide your finger inferiorly as client
depresses the mandible palpating
the anteriorly protruding coronoid
process.
Bony Landmark of the Cranium
Condyle of Mandible

Condyle of Mandible
• Condyle which connect mandible
with the temporal bone

To palpate Mandibular Condyle

• Locate the posterior edge of the
zygomatic bone just anterior to the
ear canal.
• Instruct your client to depress the
mandible as you slide your
fingertips inferiorly. Palpate the
condyle as it moves anterior and
inferior
Muscle Attachment Site
Anterolateral View

Origin
Insertion
Muscle Attachment Site
Anterolateral View

Origin
Insertion
Thank You
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, Om